"Space Aria" Demo

[dubaifox]

I finally set up a site where I can post some demos.

Here it is! My first attempt with GPO entitled \"Space Aria\"

http://www.hopkinsmusic.com/SpaceAria.mp3 (\"http://www.hopkinsmusic.com/SpaceAria.mp3\")

There are a few non GPO sounds (namely the vocal sample) and I could not get the GPO harp gliss to work without freezing my system so I borrowed it from my xv5080. Bought 512 more RAM today so we shall see if that helps at all.


Paul Hopkins Music Productions
www.hopkinsmusic.com (\"http://www.hopkinsmusic.com\")

[MCS]

Hi dubaifox!

It sounds really good to me. The only thing I´ve to say is that the solo instruments sometimes sounds too powerful or too \"near\" (or maybe too loud). The oboe at 1:55 for example, but thats maybe a question of taste.

Very good work!

Best,
Michael

[Ron Klaren]

Really nice, I like the way you wove the music around the Vocal sample.

[Junkmonkey]

Well written, mate

I like the composition very much. The mixing could use some tweaking, but who cares about that! hehe

Good job

- Junk

[Hardy Heern]

Very nice effort indeed Mr Hopkins. They\'re probably correct in that the mixing and balance could be improved. At times I thought that the writing/ orchestration sounded reminiscent of orchestration of the 30\'s or 40\'s if that is possible. I don\'t know what made me think that. It\'s appealing anyway....

You made a particularly good job of some of the solo strings.

Frank

[mschiff]

Very nice, Paul. I agree about some mixing improvements, but the song is really beautiful.

-- Martin

[dubaifox]

Thanks for the input everybody.

To my own admission, I think the piece lacks from a convincing sense of \"place\". There are some very close intimate sounds, mixed with some very big and distant sounds. And as many have mentioned mixing this better might solve some of that. Maybe a touch more reverb will blend things more but I don\'t want to overdo it with the reverb.

When I bought GPO I was really excited to try and write something slow, beautiful and powerful. For me, writing this type of music with synths is very challenging.

I\'ll go in and adjust a few things and see if that helps.

Paul (dubaifox)

[Garritan]

Paul,

Very moving and nicely done. I like the writing and arranging.

As you pointed out, it just needs a little more mixing and balance. Try adding a little more space to the brass and oboe and placing them futher back. Don\'t be afraid to add more reverb. Getting the right sense of space takes practice and engineers take a long time to develop this skill. I have been to soundtrack recordings where the engineer added a little Lexicon reverb even though the orchestra was playing in a reverberant hall. The new impulse technology is making great strides. If you want I\'ll send you an impulse.

All the compositional and orchestration elements are there. Your piece is going to really shine and I would like to post this if you don\'t mind.

Gary Garritan

[KevinKauai]

Very \"Cirque du Soleil\"! Congrats. (I think they mess with front/back relative brightness/reverbness in a way that is similar to what you have ended up here through inexperience, so the mix isn\'t a distraction to me. This is not to say that you could probably improve the experience through better mixing as you hone that craft as well.)

GARY: What these \"impulses\" you have mentioned a couple times? Can anyone try them out? (I have impulses, but they\'re mostly to do with chocolate, snacks and ... well ... you know!)

Cheers, fox!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[dubaifox]

[ QUOTE ]
All the compositional and orchestration elements are there. Your piece is going to really shine and I would like to post this if you don\'t mind.

Gary Garritan

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely! Post this one if you like, or I will go back in and tweak some things today or tomorrow and let you know when it is finished.

THANKS!

Paul

[Styxx]

This is really nice. The only change I would make is slight and that is to back off on the vocal a bit to make it more a part of the overall scheme. Also, cymbal crashes like the one you use here in my opinion is too short. I believe there is another that \"sounds\" out and diminishes gradually. In a moderate to slow tempos piece, this is more preferable. There is a way using the GPO cymbal samples to actually get a better rate of diminish. Other than this, I love it and again, another great work of art!

Thanks for sharing. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[dubaifox]

Thanks! That is a great suggestion about the vocal.

I have another version just about ready to go that takes into account alot of the changes people have suggested, including a lighter/softer vocal.

I have never really been that happy with the cymbal crash either. I\'ll see if I can tweak it to make it more sustaining.

I\'d appreciate if you look out for my second version of this and comment on it.

Thanks Again!

Paul

[Styxx]

Paul,
I don\'t have GPO in front of me. However, if you try some of the cymbal samples there is on that sustains longer. Try to strike that one right after the cymbal crash you used and see if that sounds more like it to you. Always remember, cymbals are the \"Highlight\" of any musical work! The placement of a good \"Highlight\" (as you did in your piece) can render quite an uplifting effect and or solid \"cap\" on a particular motive or theme.
I can\'t wait to hear the new version!
Wonderful work~. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif